Special Joplin City Council meeting to be televised

(From the City of Joplin)

The Joplin City Council will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, August 28, 2017. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers, fifth floor of City Hall. The public is welcome to attend, and it will be aired live on KGCS-TV, Missouri Southern State University’s television station. It will be rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 29.

Agenda items include a proposal from Missouri Southern State University on the use of the former library building at 300 Main Street. In addition, there will be a Public Hearing on the property tax rate for 2018. Following the hearing, the Council will take a vote regarding the public tax rate.

Generally, the proposal would be discussed during a work session, however the Council had already called this special meeting for the property tax rate hearing and a closed session, and the Joplin Charter dictates that this be designated a Special Meeting to allow an official vote to be taken.

President Trump coming to Springfield next week; Joplin breathes a sigh of relief

President Donald Trump is coming to Springfield, the Springfield News-Leader is reporting this morning.

The News-Leader, citing a report from Bloomberg, says Trump is coming to southwest Missouri Wednesday, August 30, to talk about tax reform, but will not be getting into any specifics, just acting as a cheerleader for the concept of tax reform.

The article mentions no venue for the event.

Devil's Messenger available as an e-book

My favorite "Banned in Joplin" book, Devil's Messenger, is available in an e-book format for the first time in several years.

The book is a horror/mystery novel first published in 2006. The "Banned in Joplin" edition (it was pulled off the shelves of Joplin R-8 schools during the Turner evil book frenzy of 2013) was published in 2016. At the time the book was removed, it had been in school libraries locally for seven years and had never been the subject of any complaints from parents or students.

My books, books from other local authors on sale Friday, Saturday at Always Buying Books

An update on how things are going with my books and my newest products.

Sale at Always Buying Books

All of my books, including Silver Lining in a Funnel Cloud, as well as the books of other local authors and local history books will be on sell for 25 percent off Friday and Saturday at Always Buying Books, 5357 N. Main Street, Joplin.

New Turner Books

My new paperbacks, Classroom Confidential and Sports Talk Memories, are scheduled to arrive in Joplin next week and will be available at local outlets in Joplin and Carthage. If there is anyone who would like to sell copies of these books and/or my earlier books, e-mail me at rturner229@hotmail.com

First Signing for Classroom Confidential, Sports Talk Memories

The first signing for Classroom Confidential and Sports Talk Memories is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, September 16, at Always Buying Books. My other books will be available as will as the new Turner Report t-shirts.

Southwest Missouri Democrats schedule Eleanor Roosevelt Days

(From Southwest Missouri Democrats)

Don't forget to mark your calendars for Southwest Missouri Democrats Annual Eleanor Roosevelt Days held each year in October.

This year our Mixer will be on Friday, October 6, 2017 at 7 PM, inside the Empire Market on 4th Street in Joplin. We are partnering with the Emily Newell Blair Women's Democratic Club to offer a Night with the Suffragettes.

The Eleanor Roosevelt Days Banquet will be held in the BSC Ballroom at MSSU on Saturday, October 7, 2017. Registration will begin at 7 PM. To RSVP for these events or for more details please email us at swmodems@gmail.com or call us 417-208-2274.

Banquet Tickets are a suggested donation of $40.
Mixer Tickets are a suggested donation of $25.
Combination tickets are available for $50.
Table Sponsorship for the Banquet are $400 and include 8 seats, free Mixer tickets, and recognition in our program and on your table.

MSSU to present proposal for old Joplin Public Library to City Council at special meeting

SPECIAL JOPLIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING 
August 28, 2017 6:00 P.M., Council Chambers  

1. Call to Order

2. Reading of the Special Call

3. Roll Call

4. Presentation
1.MSSU to discuss a proposal for the old library.

5. Public Hearing Public Hearing Procedures
1.Public Hearing on the 2017-18 property tax rate.

6. Emergencies
1.COUNCIL BILL NO. 2017-514 - AN ORDINANCE levying taxes in the City of Joplin, Missouri for the year 2017 in the amount of Seventeen and Ninety-Four Hundredths Cents ($0.1794) on One Hundred Dollars of valuation of all real property in said City, and levying taxes in the Joplin Public Library District for the year 2017 in the amount of Twenty-Five and Forty-Five Hundredths Cents ($0.2545) on One Hundred Dollars of valuation of all real property in said District, and containing an emergency clause.

Hartzler introduces bill to make school lunches more affordable

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) announced Thursday the introduction of the School Lunch Affordability Act (HR 3307), legislation that would return all control over local lunch prices to the school districts and school boards. As students return to school this month, this legislation provides freedom to school administrators and enables lower prices for students. Current federal rules require schools to use a formula to determine school lunch prices, but that formula is a one-size fits all approach that is forcing some schools to charge more than necessary for paid lunches. The current formula is intended to ensure that the paid lunch prices can fund the lunch program, but in many cases schools can fund the program without raising lunch prices.

“Common-sense changes need to be made to the National School Lunch Program to ensure all children have access to nutritious, affordable meals without putting unnecessary burdens on our local school districts,” said Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler. “Local schools require permanent relief and local control, not more mandates and bureaucratically approved waivers.”

The School Lunch Affordability Act amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act by repealing the paid lunch equity requirements which eliminates the formula that school food authorities are required to use to establish the price for a paid lunch.

“These outdated regulations are not working as intended, and I’m pleased we could take this key action to reform and remove these outdated rules,” Hartzler added. “This bill protects the student lunch program while allowing school lunch decisions to be made at the local level so parents, teachers and administrators can work together to decide what is best for their children.”

According to a 2014 study from the Office of Government Accountability, participation in the school lunch program has declined by 1.2 million from 2010-2013. The study reports that price increases likely contributed to the decline in the number of students buying full-price lunches. The biggest decline in participation came from those participating in the full-price lunches (1.6 million)while those eating free lunches were on the rise.

The reimbursement rates for paid, free and reduced lunches all stay the same so requiring the School Food Authority to raise prices does not actually save the federal government any money. It simply adds another layer of paperwork that the SFA must adhere to and the higher prices drive our children out of the paid lunch system.

Turner Report T-shirts on the way

The first shipment of Turner Report t-shirts is on the way and should arrive by the second week of September.

The shirts are Gildan Ultra Cotton and are navy blue and are available in medium, large, or extra large. The shirts are pre-shrunk, which I am told is important (as you can tell I have never dealt with selling t-shirts before.

The t-shirts cost $18.50. With sales tax added, that will be approximately $20, plus $2 to cover postage.

The shirts can be ordered at the PayPal buttons below. If you prefer not to use PayPal or a credit card, you can send a check for $22 to Randy Turner, 2306 E. 8th, Apt. G, Joplin, MO 64801. Please be sure to provide mailing information and the sizes that you need.

The shirts are scheduled to arrive in Joplin by September 7, in time for the first signing for my books Classroom Confidential and Sports Talk Memories next month. I will have more information, including the exact date of the signing soon.

Thanks for your support!

Plea agreement spells out role Jarub Baird played in meth conspiracy, money laundering

No date has been scheduled for sentencing, but a plea agreement filed in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri indicates Jarub Baird, 27, Carthage, acknowledged participating in crimes that according to federal guidelines call for a minimum sentence of nine years in prison.

Baird pleaded guilty in July after being indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2016.

The plea agreement also details the role Baird, 27, Carthage, played in the events that led to his guilty plea to charges of meth conspiracy and money laundering:

The Buchanan County Drug Strike Force (BCDSF), Springfield, Missouri Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration developed a methamphetamine drug conspiracy in 2015 involving the following people; Kenneth Bryant Lake, Michael Ryan Nevatt, Scott Bryan Sands, Jerry Lee Brown and Travis Lee Bethel. 

Investigators identified Kenneth Lake as the original head of the organization coordinating vehicle transport shipments of methamphetamine to Springfield, Missouri, for later distribution and drug proceeds (United States Currency) shipments out of Springfield, Missouri, for payment of the delivered or ordered methamphetamine. 

Subsequently, Michael Ryan Nevatt became the head of an organization involving all those listed above and Kara Renee Baze, Breanna Nicole Hall, Autumn Sky Provience, Lanny Eugene Ham, Jarub Ray Baird, Cindy Ann Nevatt, Tara L. Harken, and Jake Ian Nixon. 

This organization also obtained methamphetamine elsewhere and got it delivered to the Springfield, Missouri, area for later distribution, along with sending drug proceeds out of the area for payment of methamphetamine ordered or delivered. 

Lake, Sands, and Aaron Randall Stull, coordinated shipments of methamphetamine by United States Postal Service parcels to the Springfield, Missouri, residence of Michelle Vanne Gray where it was stored then retrieved for later distribution. 

On 08/28/2015, Kenny Lake and Kara Baze are arrested during a search warrant at a hotel room in Springfield, Missouri. Officers recovered $102,787 in United States currency, a loaded handgun and a small amount of methamphetamine. 

Michael Nevatt and BAIRD arrived in a black Corvette and after a brief chase were apprehended. In 2016, multiple witnesses gave statements to investigators in this case about BAIRD’s involvement. 

In summary, those witnesses link BAIRD with Michael Nevatt and Nevatt’s methamphetamine distribution activities. Those witnesses describe BAIRD’s activities in assisting Nevatt with obtaining and distributing more than five kilograms of methamphetamine and with collecting drug proceeds for methamphetamine distributed. 

Defendant acknowledges that while the information set out herein may not allege exact amounts of methamphetamine associated with the defendant, the amounts alleged herein, along with other statements and evidence in the case, total more than five-hundred (500) grams of methamphetamine for which the defendant is responsible. 

The defendant further acknowledges the substances with which defendant was involved were in fact methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. 

Finally, defendant acknowledges that at least some acts committed in furtherance of this distribution conspiracy were committed within the Western District of Missouri, during the dates alleged in the indictment. 

Defendant additionally acknowledges that during the dates charged in the superseding indictment, and at least partially within the Western District of Missouri, the defendant used or knew at least some of the proceeds obtained from defendant’s methamphetamine distribution, and the distribution of others in the conspiracy, were used to pay living expenses, buy assets, and to purchase additional methamphetamine for distribution. 

Defendant also acknowledges that he and other co-conspirators used cash during the conspiracy to conceal the nature of their illegal activities. 

Additional evidence exists that may further implicate the defendant in these conspiracies. The defendant acknowledges that evidence was provided to defendant’s attorney via discovery and the defendant has had an opportunity to review it with the attorney prior to signing this plea agreement and further acknowledges that evidence, and any additional evidence obtained prior to sentencing, may affect the ultimately determined drug responsibility level and sentence of the defendant. 

The parties have agreed to a drug level not less than a drug level 30, and have agreed to a a guidelines enhancement of two (2) levels as a result of defendant’s guilty plea to the money laundering conspiracy. 

However, it is understood by the parties that the pre-sentence investigation or the Court at sentencing could assess a higher drug level of responsibility, and other enhancements, for the defendant based on the evidence in the case to date or that becomes known later. 

In the event a higher drug level, or other enhancements, are determined by the pre-sentence investigation or the Court at sentencing, the parties are free to express their respective positions about that higher drug level, or other enhancements, at sentencing. 

Blunt: It is time to bring high speed internet to every corner of Missouri

(From Sen. Roy Blunt)

In 2017, it's unacceptable that 61 percent of rural Missourians lack access to broadband. Without high-speed internet, students, teachers, health care providers, and small business owners in rural areas are at a competitive disadvantage compared with people who live in bigger towns and cities.

That needs to change.

Unfortunately, the government has directed limited resources to expand broadband in cities and other urban areas that already have acces. Some of these places even have multiple providers.

From the State Fair to the Senate floor, I've voiced my commitment to eliminating this digital divide and ensuring rural Missouri communities have the same opportunities to grow, compete, and succeed.

There is good news for Missourians. Federal Communications Committee (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, who was appointed by President Trump, is taking positive steps to expand access to broadband.

I'm pleased that Chairman Pai took action after I urged him to make available $2 billion in funds for rural broadband, and to open this money up to auction so new entrants in this field could competitively bid. The FCC is also working to expand mobile wireless service to rural areas and reduce costs for companies upgrading from copper to fiber optic networks.

There is, however, a lot more that needs to be done. I hear from Missourians all the time who are frustrated with the lack of broadband acccess. If your family or business has been affected, I hope you'll share your story with me on my website at blunt.senate.gov so I can make sure your voice is heard.

As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, I look forward to continuing to work with Missouri families and communities, my colleagues in the Senate, and the FCC to bring high-speed internet to every corner of Missouri.